Tell Me About Eternity

Tell Me About Eternity is from the series "Big Topics for Little Kids" by Joel Anderson. Following suit with all the books in this series, the illustrations (done by Joel Anderson and Kristi Carter Smith) appear to be computer generated and are hazy with several silhouettes and soft colors. The bookend verses are Psalm 139:13, 16 and 1 John 3:2.

This story follows two people: one an infant about to be born and the other an elderly man about to die. Both are in the same hospital with family and friends around them. The author highlights their similaries -- both are bald and helpless; thinking of their mothers' voices and wondering what life will be like "out there" -- and their differences -- one is old; the other is young; one is coming to life; the other is going to heaven. This book creates a warm, secure feeling about life and death. As with all the books in this series, questions and answers are provided in the back of the book to prompt further discussion. A project is also included to help children visualize eternity.

What I Like: The concept. As with all the books in this series, I applaud the author for tackling difficult subjects for kids. He does a wonderful job relieving fear children may have about death. He describes both the birth and the passing as a time of celebration.

What I Dislike: This book does a wonderful job explaining life and death and relinquishing fears associated with the two, but it doesn't discuss eternity (as the title clearly suggests). Not until readers get to the backmatter is eternity described in any way. I expected the story to talk about Heaven and eternal life. It didn't. Furthermore, the illustrations were not very interesting.

Overall Rating: Poor.

Age Appeal: 4-8

Publisher Info: Tommy Nelson, 2005; ISBN: 1400305985; Hardback; $9.99

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